Short one today. Something about observing other drivers. Tomorrow I might continue the movies-that-never-made-it-here post (see this one). Or maybe actually do the ‘Why there is no CSI:Malaysia’ post (as recommended by nadia…) Then again, maybe not…
Let’s face it – there are too many cars on the city roads these days. Far too many. Even in small towns, the traffic jams are horrendous, but not as bad as KL on weekdays. Just look around you during peak hour traffic jams: almost every car is empty except for the driver.
I spend a lot of time observing other drivers (during jams, not while cruising 105km/h on the Kesas highway) and see a lot of interesting stuff. There are different categories of drivers (and their passengers, if they have any).
The office guy – wear a long sleeved office shirt, usually seen on the road after 7pm in the evening (“Wah, I’m so busy never get to leave early oneâ€). Always looks extremely tired (“What do you expect? I wake up at 6.30am everyday to beat the jam…â€) and slightly overweight. Looks dead ahead, can’t wait to get home.
The young couple – usually Malay or Chinese, and usually in a Kancil. Both looking ahead, like zombies (“tak cukup tidur, baby tak henti menangisâ€) or looking in different direction. Husband has to drop off wife, then drive to work. They used to ride a motorbike, but switched to car after getting fed-up with waiting in the tunnel during thunderstorms.
The company van – driver with van full of factory or construction workers, or office cleaners. Usually seen on the road before 7am and after 5pm. Workers are always sleeping, driver usually half asleep. Van usually has at least 5 dents in various places. Understandably, I always keep a safe distance from them.
Young lady in her first car – Hands gripping steering tight (until the knuckles are white), looks dead ahead, leaning forward. Most of the time driving 60km/h on the fast lane, signals 2km away before the turning. Car usually packed with cutesy furry toys everywhere, including stuck to windows.
The car pool guy – The nice guy who pools with his colleagues to save on petrol, toll, parking and help reduce the traffic jam. Too bad I’ve never seen one before.
9 Comments
JoeC
Three types of drivers that pissed me off:-
1. Those who aimlessly driving or sailing all over the road. Orang buta!
2. Those who hogs the fast lane doing 60km/h. Get a life and move over buddy!
3. Those who talks on the phone w/o hands free kit, why? being cheap? or lazy bums.
Thx for the word. Cheers!
yuin
there’s also the yellow haired dude in the zhng’d up proton saga swerving in and out of the lanes.
lilian
Oi, oi, KL no ah sahms driving kids who tarzan in the car wan meh?
Balajoe
The office guy – yup, that’s me allright but I strongly OBJECT this “Young lady in her first car – ..signals 2km away before the turning”
WTF, I kena so many times, “young lady” signals when my car is like 2 inch apart and turns in without checking whether I slow down or not.
coppersnare
I used to car pool last time. Of course I collected petrol and toll money from my colleagues, heh.
simon
joeC – yeah, no.3 is REALLY arrogant and annoying. i usually blast my horn at ’em…
yuin – yeah ive seen that one. just stay clear…
lilian – got. but the minute they see a cop suddenly they disappear under the seats…
balajoe – i suppose its 2 different types, one doesn’t know the way, the other one doesnt want to miss the turning, even from 2km.
coppersnare – sometimes i collect toll, but not petrol. works out evenly actually…
eSSeNtRiC
And then there’s those fat, horny, greasy looking men who are driving trucks.. and you sorta give them the eye, in hopes that he’ll let you cut in, but after winking at you, he doesn’t even let you move into the lane! Grrr.
simon
essentric – i pretty much stay clear of trucks… any size…
Mubarakh Ali
MALAYSIAN DRIVERS GUIDE BOOK
Whatever that goes wrong, it is never our fault. It’s always others. Malaysian drivers seem to have their own set of Laws. Like the DNA, each of them has their own set of rules on how things should be on the road. I call it The Malaysian Driver’s Law (MDL).
With over 30 years experience in driving, I am gifted to watch how everyone drives or handles a car. Fortunately I have accepted all styles humorous and glad to size them up. It really draws the upbringing, traffic stress and social competitiveness of us.
LANGUAGE LIMITATION
With all the fuss about changing school syllabus, signage’s and road signs to “bahasaâ€, I don’t see the point as English still rules. Despite 52 years of independence, and a decade of “gunalah bahasa kebangsaanâ€, many people who’s Bahasa is their only language cant event read a simple road sign such as “IKUT KIRI JIKA TIDAK MEMOTONGâ€. And to those who don’t understand bahasa, can expect no better. At the age of 45, with all the academic qualifications, I have yet to subconsciously comprehend every word in Bahasa. Yes I admit I get confuse with KIRI and KANAN. At least with all the driving experience, I know that the sign means ‘Keep Left When Not Overtaking’.
Our politicians when talking without a script (except Tun M) can not stick to either one language. They and the rest of us are the same. We keep mixing up Bahasa and English. We can’t manage to subconsciously translate left, right, kiri and kanan on dime without fumbling.
Putting that aside, there are still issues with local drivers to understand and agree on road signs, rules and regulation in road traffic. As drivers, many hardly read all the signage’s by the road side, with an assumption that “seen it, done that†knowledge of driving.
Yet the same people whom complain relentlessly about fast drivers and the weaving in traffic are the cause of it, typical as they can’t understand the simple bahasa as “Ikut Kiri Jika Tidak Memotongâ€. Based on that, without too much analysis I can safely assume that 50% of highway users can’t read, “buta-hurofâ€, short sighted or the signs are in wrong language. Let alone if they can even confidently pin, which is kanan and kiri when the adrenaline pumps.
Contrary to Radio station’s and coffee shop’s study on road accidents that most accidents are due to speeding and weaving, PDRM statistics on the other hand revealed that accidents usually happens in trunk roads and when overtaking.
OVERTAKING or BASKET WEAVING?
The question is why do people need to overtake? Of course the reply is simple; the chicken crossed the road because it wanted to get to the other side. Same as to the drivers whom overtake. Drivers whom overtake (like me) or zigzags are called Basket Weavers (BW) by some highly experienced Radio DJ’s. Since I am one of the many BW, perhaps my opinion counts.
Well I overtake because I simply want to move on with my life, to carry-on with my journey. I do not enjoy sitting too long in a cabin. It’s not a ‘Hari Kemerdekaan’ so there is no need for any ‘perarakkan’ on the public road, so I overtake.
Whap happen next is much interesting. The driver of the car I am trying to overtake (called Zen Master, ZM for short) suddenly wakes up from deep alpha level meditation and floors on the accelerator. Making my (BW) attempt to overtake him more difficult (it is believed that the ZM’s attempt is to subject me to retract my action and participate in deep meditation with him). Unfortunately due to my power of determination, I the BW, press on. This attempt is further reprimanded by another accomplis, the driver coming from the opposite direction. Let’s say this third driver is called….The Moron (MN) whom is also awakened from deep meditation and decides to help ZM. He flash’s his high beam repeatedly, blinding me the BW, to force me into;
A. Abort overtaking and ditch on the right or
B. Squeeze between ZM and MN or
C. Brake hard to join ZM in meditation.
Both the ZM and MN had some sort of telepathic relation to orchestrate such an outstanding setup, so precisely that I the BW will certainly choose B (If I go, why not take them along, after all we are family). These actions are so perfectly orchestrated which will give ZM, BW and MN the opportunity for an ‘out-of-body’ experience to meet god.
When I did something like this in Melbourne Australia, the two other cars actually slowed down and let me pass. They seemed to have transmitted to me a signal “be well†and were not keen to have the out-of-body-experience.
The second reason how I became a BW, was due to this ZM’s on the highways. Road speed says 80. All ZM’s will drive on the right lane like at 50kph. There will be an empty lane going in front of him for miles. He knows you are tailing behind but he will not let you pass, because according to his own set of rules, he is complying with ‘the rules’. Not to be an MN, I have no alternative but to pass him on the left. There will be time when one is coming at a speed of 140kph, by the time you slow down, to wait for ZM to finish meditation and then catch up with the loss time, unnecessary universal energy is lost. Additional fuel to raise back the car’s momentum, wear on tires, metabolism in my body and my time. And therefore, a BW is born!
Doesn’t in occur to these ZM’s that some of us maybe fortunate to own a better car. That it has all the safety features and superior handling. That perhaps it’s our own business to take the car up above national limits. Perhaps that the car I drive is a German made, for Autobahn? That there are countries, manufacturers and people those are superior than us, smarter and responsible than our ZM’s? Or perhaps, our road signs should draw attention.
LIGHTS
Malaysians love lights. We love all sorts, HID, xenon, blue, white, green, neon, and so on. If a stadium flood light can be installed on a car, we will be the first. If Indians loves horn, Malaysians love lights.
During the last call for Earth Hour, I drove around Subang Jaya. Only some 30% of the residents here switched off the lights for an hour (including me). For the rest 70% life was as grand as usual. Amazing to see that in 2009 there are still Malaysians whom are completely absolved from the universe and their environment.
Following are some interesting use of lights.
Hazard Lights
It is a form of communication devised by us Malaysian’s. We utilized the Hazard light to send secret codes.
The Hazard light on vehicles was believed to mean “car broke down, stationary on emergency lane, drive awayâ€, or at least something like that written on that useless Owner’s Handbook (written in both languages). Drivers believe that it is total waste of resources and material thrown in with the car. That it caused more depreciation of trees to contribute for paper printing.
Malaysians know it almost immediately after birth what hazard lights are for. For those who still haven’t got it, please be fully informed that the hazard light here is only to be used when;
A. There is a need to park a car in front of a bank (Type A3)
B. Transporting money -applicable to Security companies & convoys (Type A2)
C. During a heavy downpour (Type A1)
– Type A3
This method is not common and rarely seen. It’s goes by territory and for some unknown reason; these examples are found abundance in Taipan USJ, Klang, Taman Sri Gombak, Jalan Pasar, Jalan Ampang and Singapore Embassy.
While at Taipan USJ, USJ 1, Schools and restaurants in Subang Jaya, please take a moment to observe and learn how citizens here park their cars. Some of the latest and exotic techniques are invented here. Parents picking up their kids from school and those, whom have lunch at the restaurants, are privileged to park right at the center of the road. Any other reason, you will find a ticket on the w/screen
However, to be fair there are many Malaysians also have serious skin disorder. They suffer from a kind of skin cancer called ‘filtrus-stinkus-lowdown-bitchistis’ or FSB for short, that when exposed to the sun, their skin burns. I feel sorry for this folks. Please put a label on your forehead “FSB†and you will be given special privilege to block the main entrance to the school. We are in midst of applying to the Ministry of Education to grant you special pass to drive up right into your child’s classroom.
– Type A2
Commonly complied in official convoys. Many Security companies travel in the early hours along Federal Highway with their hazard lights ON. They tend to drive around 80kph on the right lane. The switching ON of the hazard light by these individuals indicates that they have a cargo of substantial cash and therefore they have the right of way. “Please move to the center lane or stopâ€. It is believed that this is also to ward off any suspecting robbers, that the flashing hazard light has a death ray. Brain surgeons have yet to discover how these ingenious methods came about by local Security companies and convoys. Please check this article from time to time for further updates.
– Type A1
This will be the most significant reason and on the top of the charts. The hazard light can and should be used only by deserving drivers during a heavy rain. I call these deserving drivers as DMAS (It think you know the abbreviation). It simply means “Hey, its heavy rain. Wow… I can’t see sh…, beware of meâ€.
It is unknown why so many Malaysians today failed to inherit this gift, an ESP to perceive messages from these DMAS. The hazard light here in Malaysia serves as a warning to others that a DMAS is on the road. You should stop your vehicle immediately and let the DMAS pass.
To recognize a DMAS, look out for the following signs. A DMAS usually,
• drives below 50kph,
• on an 110kph highway,
• on the far right lane (close to the railing),
• during a heavy downpour
• with hazard lights!
Once you have spotted one, again, please pull over and stop. Reserve the right lane for DMS. This privilege is no exception if your car/s has tires that are designed to handle aquaplaning*, fitted with special safety devices e.g. ASC, DSC, ACT, CCT or AC/DC to maintain traction, or that it might have a special set of Wiper blades to skim off water, or equipped with Night Vision, that you might have special treatments on the windshield or you could be wearing special glasses, all in which you think contributes to better visibility and superior road handling. Investments by such drivers are automatically rendered null and void when a DMAS switch’s ON the hazard light. Such investments have no impact what so ever to a DMAS and they reserve the right of way.
*Aquaplaning is some fancy word used to decorate the Owner’s Handbook. Please ignore and return the book when you sell the car so that the car may fetch better price.
Signal Light
This device in some countries are used to indicate the driver is about to switch directions. When a left signal flashes, usually yellow/amber in color flashes on the left of the car, it means the driver is about to maneuver the vehicle he/she is in towards left and switching to right signal means turning right.
Again this applies only in other countries. In Malaysia, local law does not specify that the turn signal should be yellow. It can be blue or white. As a matter of fact, a Malaysian vehicle owner (MDL Compliant) is free to decide which color he/she chooses to have so that it matches their cloths.
However, a Malaysian driver whether a BW, ZM, MN or DMAS are urged to use signal switch AFTER making the required turn. Let me repeat that, use the signals AFTER you make the turn. This is to protect you against any insults, blame, legal suites in the event of an accident/incidents. The use of signal AFTER the event is to comply. Never use the signal BEFORE the event as it may also risk various protests, violence and/or harassments from other motorists.
As general information, in other countries the choice of amber (yellow, orange or reddish yellow) are claimed to increase alertness of human being. Red and amber also has greater range. It is not certain if this was the reason for Malaysia to convert to yellow street lights from white in the late 70’s. Perhaps blue would have looked nice.
The Continental car manufacturers install Instrument meters and interior consoles that are lighted in amber. They must have made a gross error in their years of research that they assumed that amber will keep the driver on alert. Because studies in Malaysia revealed that the use of blue, green, white, purple, pink etc., tend to relax the driver. It is perfect to induce drivers into rapid meditation while driving.
Proper Signaling Techniques
We all know that Jalan Tun Razak is the Mecca for traffic jams. Most city folks know it instinctively which roads are jammed without the help of our Radio DJ. Due to our determination and perseverance, we are confident to drive through it. Equipped with some skills, everyone can handle the traffic jam stress.
As an additional aid to new comers and maybe foreigners, following are some key techniques how you can enter or exit a road lane.
Lane Change (Male Drivers) – Turning left
1. Drive steadily
2. Look straight
3. Rest your left hand fingers on signal lever (turning left)
4. Caution: Do not activate signal yet (this will give away your position)
5. Place your right hand at 10 O’clock of the steering wheel
6. Roll your eye balls on the wing mirror (right side) slowly!
7. Note the gap between each car
8. Once you note a gap is larger that previous assessment, immediately rotate the steering wheel clock wise half circle.
9. Then immediately turn the steering one full circle counter clock wise to the left
10. Activate left signal
11. Your are now safe to enter the left lane
12. Raise your right hand (if applicable)
13. Never check the rear view mirror, proceed as normal
Lane Change (Male Driver) – Turning right
1. Follow the above steps but in opposite direction.
NOTE
Step 1 ~ 4 It’s important to follow these steps so that you do not give away vital information of your intended action/s.
Step 9 Is to ‘stun’ the driver on the left when the driver on the right hysterically jerks his car forward. The ‘Shock & Aw’ you created will cause an ‘opening’ on the left rear of you that permits a safe entry.
Step 10 Is to ensure that you have complied with the law. It also serves as a double protection should there be any biker under your car.
Step 12 Optional. Raise your hand to the biker behind (if applicable)
Step 5 Important, to trick the rear left driver
Step 13 There could be some hand signs that does not add value in reaching your objective
Lane Change (Female Driver)
We regret to inform that there are no new techniques available for women drivers at this point of time. The “Hara-kiri†or “Kamikaze†driving techniques currently practiced are very effective. Male drivers are warned not to pursue these techniques as report indicates many men have been traumatized by women drivers. There are claims that these victims (men drivers) have resorted to hobbies like collecting stamps, Bonsai planting, playing RC models or spending time at the gym.
Congratulations. You are now a certified MDL Klang Valley driver. Your MDL Association affiliate number is 1STCLA$$MRN.
Fog Lights
Most continental cars are installed with rear fog lights. Fog light as we know it, are usually low mounted and have narrow beam range. It’s mounted low because fogs are thinner at ground level and the light can pretty much penetrate further. It does not work the same in rain, heavy rain, terential rain, acid rain or plain rain. Nor does it during haze. In Malaysia fog light, when you are not driving at Genting serves as a fashion.
Some ‘unsuspecting’ continental car drivers love to switch ON the rear fog light. Not knowing that it is so sharp and powerfull than on a good evening, the brighness can go through your eyeballs and glows your brain.
To overcome this, please install a 300 Watt projector headlight concealed in the reverse light housing. Drive in front of him and switch it ON. This way, he (the continental car driver) will appreciate your brief demonstration. Do not be overly concerned if you are labeled as PUNK as the situation is not classified in this guide book.
Head Lights
Scientist has yet to unlock the mystery of this light flashing phenomenon but local folks believe that this is a signal of peace and harmony. In Malaysia, flashing of the headlight high beam means:
• Sporadic short flash -“join me for meditationâ€
• Single flash means – “thank you†or “up-yoursâ€
• Double flash means -“caution†or “Hi!†or “you Pig!â€
• Triple flash means -“there’s a speed trap ahead†or “get lostâ€
• Repeated flashing -“quick, it’s time for meditationâ€
• Constant flashing -“see you in hell†or “really, SEE YOU IN HELLâ€
As mentioned earlier, today’s cars are fitted with HID bulb or Xenon lamp. But good Xenon or HID lights are only installed on premium cars. Well designed, tested and focused by the factory. These xenon lights apart from its long life-span, projects more light on the road and on the right spots, not all over the rubber estate. It is also aimed in such a way that it does not glare into the opposite driver. If it does, a mild blue shadow will dampen the glare. It only suits the purpose if installed in the factory by the manufacturer as they are specially designed to suit specific models.
Here we install on any car, not knowing the glare, the ability for the seal beam to sustain heat and location of the dangerous igniter/amplifier. Apart from annoyingly bright glare, it is also dangerous against electric shock, up to 1000 volts.
Super bright white and blue headlights are a fashion. The owners (lets call them BUTA or Bright Ultra Type Affectionist) feel as if he is in a premium car. BUTA thinks that he can see better, drive faster and maybe fly. But his flies in their face of all that. Other drivers don’t share these good thoughts and in fact, they start to read some mantra that places bad luck on to BUTA’s.
But some groups will most likely welcome the BUTA for outdoor camping and night games. There are also stores selling Toll Plaza and Stadium flood lights. With a good battery, water cooled alternator and bazooka size capacitors, a set can be installed on your car. Should cost a reasonable RM50, 000.00. Those keen to become BUTA, please visit the outlets around SS2, Petaling Jaya.
TYPE OF DRIVERS
Apart from the various use for lights, it is also good to learn and ponder on some types of these MDL compliant drivers. Over the years, I have been able to place some of them in certain classification too. After all, if the DJ’s can, I can too. My favorites are:
• The Flasher
• Rain Syndrome
• Tok Wan
• PUNKS
• The Smart One
• Love Thy Steering Lock
• Nerve-Wreck
The Flasher
These are some drivers whom are rather ‘edgy’. Pay extreme caution with these sorts of drivers as they can come out of meditation so rapidly that they shock even themselves. These people are said to be the root cause of pile ups. The signs to look out for are the flashing brake light. It will flicker rapidly or frequently. Indicating he/she is nervous and his/her right foot is always on the brake pedal, ready to jump on it on short notice.
There are also cases where the brake light flashes like disco light even when driving up hill. Their right foot is more often on the brakes then the accelerator. A severe case of nerve disorder known as ‘hysterian-junkiesties’
Rain Syndrome
This is different from DMAS, these drivers simply freeze, loose all memories on how to drive. They need to pause and recollect every step in getting a car to move. It usually happens when it rains. The case is so severe that many even forget where they are going.
Scientist believes that there are 8 out 10 drivers suffer from this illness. These people dropped into a theta state of mind when they hear or see rain. Perhaps of their pass history with water. The medical name for this illness is ‘stupidous-jerkos’ level 1, an adverse case of cancer that one can melt like sugar when exposed to rain. So when they see or hear rain, the mind shuts down in fear. Please be considerate to these drivers and vacate the right lane for them.
Tok Wan
Radio DJ’s classify these drivers as road hoggers whilst the general folks call them honeymooners. Mistaken for their driving style, folks claim that they are back from honeymoon and still in daze. Contrary to the common branding, these drivers are closer to the ZM species. They are born to this world to do one significant thing to man kind. To transform calm individual to a violent road bully. A power harnessed only from the dark side and they are extremely well trained.
We call these Tok Wans, …Tok Wan or TW for short. They use their ESP mastery to squeeze in front of you, in the midst of crisis like 6.30pm, at Jalan Tun Razak with about 10km of traffic in front of you. Once they are infront of you, they immediately drop into a state of deep beta meditation. TW are more powerful than ZM because they can also hibernate while driving and like an F16 missile tracking system, lock on to you. They are only interested with one driver and it is the one behind him. All other drivers are left from harm’s way. You can find plenty of these people at about the same timing in Gombak, Sri Gombak, Ampang, Ulu Klang particularly in the month of Ramadhan.
Higly skilled, with years of training these TW will move in a crawling phase almost like it is powered by wind. As if their every breath, in and out propels the car to move several feet, while hibernating. You will notice all other cars from left and right, far behind and several kilometers back and way back, will pass you one by one. TW then slowly and surely transforms the good driver to be a BW. All your techniques of lane change will be rendered useless. You will soon transform in an accelerated phase to become a MN, DMAS, Kamikaze and even BDSM.
PUNKS
Not my fault that it’s, a typical defense sentence used by these specific types of drivers. They believe they possess the power. The power is in their hands and no one else knows any more than them. We call these young punks, …PUNKS. There are no plans to assign any abbreviation for these PUNKS yet. Due to their age bracket, the association forbids that they are classified as DMAS. They possibly lack basic science education in school or never got an opportunity to attend one or the science teacher died during his prime time. Otherwise, these PUNKS could have made it in life (at least better than what they are now). PUNKS!
They could have learned that worn-out tires, size and speed can make a car slip like on ‘an ice-skating ring’ when driving on wet surface. Despite falling on their face repeatedly whilst at the Sunway Pyramid ice-skating ring, they have yet to understand what ice and water have in common.
It seems, the larger the foot prints of the tires, and the easier it is for aquaplaning. Manufacturers determine the tire size by the weight distribution of the car, the wheel base and the average driving speed the car is expected to endure in its lifetime in public roads. The size of the tires and pressure must also be kept as to factory requirement. Car manufacturers persistently disagree with these PUNKS, that the standard tires fitted on their cars are for good purpose.
Because of their intelligence (and DMAS on the road), PUNKS (with his 21†bling bling rims, almost F1 like tires) can easily lose control of the vehicle when not adhering to tire size vs. speed. When the car does lose control and slams the DMAS, PUNKS will blame the whole world except himself. If we look at his Police report it will say;
“…semasa saya memandu di KM210 lebuh raya timur barat, pada kelajuan 49.9km sejam, jalan ketika itu hujan, tiba-tiba sebuah kereta lain (DMAS) brek depan saya. Saya hilang kawalan dan terbabas. Kereta saya rosak disini sana dan jumlah kerosakkan dianggarkan lebih kurang, campor tolak lampu HID ialah hampir hampir RM 68,345 dan 34 sen sahaja. Lain lain kerosakkan belum tahu lagi.†Or better yet “tiba tiba tiang lampu muncul depan sayaâ€.
The Smart One (S.O.)
I call them ‘the smart one’ (S.O.) because they managed to make all other drivers as “not so smart onesâ€, for lining up. They ‘whoosh’ right pass all the ques and at the last point of entry, they go for the dive. Then put on a signal and start picking their nose.
Their attempts to jump queue may have saved them vital time like 2.390345 seconds but they will sure to inherit abundance of bad luck. What happen is, while he is rejoicing alone in his car like a knuckle-head, the 50 over cars he just jumped are transmitting deadly curse on to him. As a result of this curse, O.S. will have bad luck in his relationship, bullied by his wife or his coworkers. Tomorrow he will do it again, rushing home to cook dinner for his wife or wash cloths. He will never realize that his entire life is being controlled by bad omen.
Looking at these characters, psychologists believe that these actions are symptom of bad upbringing. They have been deprived of love and attention. Taught by their parents that in order to survive, they must grab any scrap they can find. Compete to survive and always push themselves to be in the front, in an imaginary number one. They call these ‘the law of welcome’ (LOW)
You can sometimes find these people in your office or supermarkets disguised as reputable individual. They usually have short or no finger nails (bitten off) and they always beat the next person heading towards the toilet, a paying counter, a parking lot, coffee machine, office lift, etc., etc. Please offer a silent prayer for this O.S.s when you spot one and whenever possible, reserve the left lane and the manhole for them.
Love Thy Steering Lock
We are all at any given time friends, brothers, sisters, neighbors and office mate. Why some of you are spouses, but these are dismissible when we are in the car. The brand and size of the car tell us our status of power. As an example, we see a Kancil driver as a nuisance. The Merc S500 is a show off and the Syang Yong Rexton a bully. As a matter of fact, a daughter could be driving the Merc and our wife could be in the Kancil.
BBC once revealed that we are covered by the shell of the car of our true self. Whilst we would politely apologize to one whom we bumped at the streets, supermarkets or walkways, here on the road we will act the opposite, ready to grab the steering lock. Psychologists claim no cure for this problem as material wealth projects status. Judging a book by its cover has been the way of life here in Malaysia.
Malaysians love to overdress for the occasion. If only Gentling had a patch of ice, it will be jammed with skiers.
Nerve-Wreck
Nerve-Wreck or NW are drivers whom are at the verge of nervous breakdown. Commonly seen as a pest who can’t stick to his/her lane for more than 3 minutes. Immediately adterwhich “times-up, change lane†and they wonder around. They can’t hold the steering wheel steady. Every few minutes they make a Kamikaze turn into another lane. Strangely they don’t get anywhere. You will still see them next to you when you are about to reach home.
Probably suffering from enzymer, they don’t remember where they are going. Different from O.S. because O.S. lives in an imaginary objective. A nerve-wreck does not.
MY NEW CAR
This is bonus information about vehicle modification. As soon a driver gets a new car they run like there is no tomorrow to install all sorts of things. They install cross-bars between the two front struts and on some even on the rear axles. Seldom we see them investing in good set of tires. Whilst it has been proven that the rear cross bar (placed between the suspension arms) contribute absolutely nothing to the car, some continue to argue that it does. But trust me (I don’t know why you should – but trust me) the extra rear axle bar does absofrekenlutely nothing at all to the vehicles behavior.
The front bar however does. It holds the front wheel house rigid. Motor sport drivers do this to hold the camber to their preferred setting so that they (the driver) can take control of the car when maneuvering the car on a race track. Because race tracks have allowances for wider turns with positive camber, that it can be taken at greater speeds.
Not knowing these principles, installing them on standard production cars, driven on public roads alters the vehicle behavior. Furthermore, they are not race drivers and they mostly ferry their family on these highways. They have never made any hard turning or braking to know how the car behaves and when a situation does occur, they are completely caught by surprise on the vehicles unexpected behavior. We only get to read about them and their cars in the newspaper when it’s all over.
Same goes to installing hard struts, elevated suspensions and so on. I pity the occupants when I see these cars jumping up and down while doing 100kph on our PLUS roads. The occupants could die in the car, trauma to the head before they reach their destination.
In conclusion, I have noticed that we Malaysians have become creative to absolve responsibility and accountability, particularly on the roads. From the way things are going, one can only wonder the course of our future. All the exposure and safety campaigns does not seem to have a significant impact in the way we handle a car or. It was said that Hong Kong was once was like us, in fact far worst. It was during the last recession that hit them so badly that upon recovering from it, they emerged as changed people. They are now more polite and considerate not only to tourist but among themselves. I really hope we don’t have to face changes in that manner.
I hope you have enjoyed this article.
Be well.
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